ISSN:
1365-2036
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: Non-cardiac chest pain is a common and expensive condition. Risk factors for non-cardiac chest pain are poorly understood and lack description in the USA community.Aim: To explore risk factors and health-seeking behaviour in non-cardiac chest pain in a USA community.Methods: Olmsted County, MN subjects who reported at least monthly or severe chest pain in response to a validated questionnaire were compared with controls. All the Mayo Clinic medical records were reviewed; those with cardiac disease or relevant organic conditions were excluded.Results: Of 2118 eligible subjects, 1524 (72%) returned a questionnaire, 389 subjects (26%) reported any chest pain and 186 (12.2%) at least monthly or severe chest pain. Of these, 62 were excluded for a cardiac diagnosis or another organic cause. Thus, 124 subjects (9.1%, 95% CI: 7.6–10.8%) reported at least monthly or severe non-cardiac chest pain, of which 65 (52.4%) had frequent reflux symptoms. Independent risk factors for non-cardiac chest pain were obesity (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.64–5.50), family history of reflux (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.73–4.32), previous cigarette use (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.27–3.18), aspirin use (OR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.00–2.31) and use of antiarthritis medicines (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.27–3.16). Compared with subjects with non-cardiac chest pain and associated gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms, subjects with non-cardiac chest pain without associated gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms were less likely to have a family history of reflux, more likely to be younger, and less likely to be obese. Compared with controls, subjects with non-cardiac chest pain without gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms were younger (OR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99), reported higher somatic symptom scores (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 1.08–1.73) and were more likely to be obese (OR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.15–5.93).Conclusions: Recurrent or severe non-cardiac chest pain is common in the community. Half of the people with significant non-cardiac chest pain have frequent reflux symptoms, thus, risk factors for non-cardiac chest pain are similar to risk factors for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. People with non-cardiac chest pain without reflux symptoms have a slightly different risk factor profile.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02666.x
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